{
  "id": 6082658,
  "title": "Author's YA book partly inspired by experience as sex educator in schools",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/authors-ya-book-partly-inspired-by-experience-as-sex-educator-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T01:55:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-07/bad-queer-gayathiri-kamalakanthan-chi-nwosu-young-adult-fiction/107116832"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Surya, the protagonist of Gayathiri Kamalakanthan's young adult novel \"Bad Queer,\" is a coming-out story that draws inspiration from the author's own experiences as a sex educator in schools. Surya, who is queer and non-binary, grapples with accepting their identity, coming out to their family and friends, and navigating their first romantic relationship. The novel's illustrations by Chicago artist Chi Nwosu visually represent Surya's internal emotions and journey of self-acceptance. Kamalakanthan, a theatre veteran and sex educator, hopes \"Bad Queer\" will provide a relatable and empowering narrative for young people exploring their gender identity and sexual orientation.",
  "summary": "Tamil British author Gayathiri Kamalakanthan and Nigerian American artist Chi Nwosu have joined forces to create Bad Queer, an intricately illustrated verse novel about a queer person coming of age.",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Bad Queer\" by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan inspired by author's sex education experience",
    "Protagonist Surya is queer, non-binary, and navigates coming out and relationships",
    "Kamalakanthan hopes novel empowers young people exploring gender identity and orientation"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The author's experience as a sex educator in schools lends authenticity to the novel's portrayal of a young queer person's journey of self-acceptance and coming out.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}